Tap-off connector



R. A. J. O'KEEFE ETAL TAP-OFF CONNECTOR Sept. 6, 1960 Filed Dec. 14, 1956 INVEIYTOR. 065,874 JOKEEF: y fe V/A/G. fl/wm/yssf M Mix TAP-OFF CONNECTOR Robert A. J. OKeefe, New Rochelle, N.Y., and Irving F.

Matthysse, Stamford, Conn., assignors to Burndy Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 14, 1956, Ser. No. 628,247

2 Claims. (Cl. 174-71) Our invention relates to electrical connectors for terminating or connecting wire conductors, and more particularly to a bell-shaped connector through which the wire is passed, providing a snubbing action. I

The connectors in service today include service strain clamps which depend on two sheet metal parts which wedge together about the cable to grip it securely; strain clamps and dead-ends which grip the connector by means of U-bolts; and automatic dead-ends which employ a split-cone inside a tapered tube. These connector types are bulky, heavy, and require accessory devices for providing the ultimate clamping force.

It is an object of our invention to provide a multiple type of terminal or tap connection which employs the snub-grip principle. Other objects are to provide such a device which may be installed expeditiously; which may be used for tap connections; which is reduced in bulk, light in weight, and adapted for use as strain clamps, mid-span taps, and similar devices.

We accomplish these and other objects and obtain our new results as will be apparent from the device described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of my device.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the same.

The run and tap connector illustrated in the drawings comprises the body provided with four bell-shaped tap connector sockets 12, each of which terminates in a malleable sleeve 14 intended for crimping the ends of the tap cables 15. The sleeve is force-fitted into recesses 16 of the socket wall. The bell-shaped mouth 18 possesses a large radius to allow the tap cable to orient itself anywhere within a substantial are without undue stress on the cable. This permits the cable to pull in a direction which keeps the sleeve 14 tightly wedged in the body socket wall. The upper surface of the body 10 is provided with extensions 20 having a groove 22 for receiving the run cable 24. A pair of threaded bores 26 receive bolts 28 which tighten a cap plate 30 about the run cable. An extension 32 on the underside of the cap plate, is provided with a groove 34 to seat the run cable in proper position.

Sleeves 14 are made of malleable metal suitable for United States Patent 0 Patented Sept. 6, 1960 crimping to the tap cables. A suitable tool applied to the sleeves about the crimp marks 36, supplies the pressure which crimps the sleeve to the ends of cables 15.

The foregoing connector utilizes the snubbing effect of a cable passing through and over a bell-shaped structure with the gripping member perpendicular to the cable.

We have thus described our invention, but we desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of our invention, and, therefore, we claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which, objects of our invention are attained and new results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

We claim:

1. A snub type connector body for joining a run conductor to a plurality of tap conductors comprising a generally planar shaped body having a plurality of cable openings therein transverse to the plane of said body, each cable opening having a bell-shaped outwardly curved circular mouth for snubbing a cable seated therein, a socket having an interior diameter less than the diameter of said cable opening and adjoining each of said cable openings for receiving the free end of the cable at the center of the cable opening, means for electrically joining said sockets to a run conductor having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the axis of said sockets.

2. A snub type connector body for joining a run conductor to a plurality of tap conductors comprising a generally rectangular body having a plurality of cable openings each having a bell shaped outwardly curved circular mouth for snubbing a cable sea-ted therein, a socket associated with each of said cable openings and having an inside diameter less than the diameter of said cable openings for receiving and being permanently joined to the free end of a tap conductor disposed at the center of the cable opening, a groove longitudinally extending across said rectangular body and means for mechanically clamping a run conductor in said groove whereby said run and tap conductors are electrically joined and supported by said run conductor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,700,899 Kroeger Feb. 5, 1929 2,175,759 Olson Oct. 10, 1939 2,287,761 Matthysse June 23, 1942 2,499,296 Buchanan Feb. 28, 1950 2,533,897 Reddock Dec. 12, 1950 2,777,895 Bergen Ian. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 84,541 Norway Sept. 11, 1954 

